Coin control means for beverage vending machines



June 20, 1950 R. D. WALTERS 2,512,573

COIN CONTROL MEANS FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: RALPH D. WALTERS ATTORN EY.

June 20, 1950 R. o. WALTERS 2,512,573

COIN CONTROL MEANS FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 RALPH D. WALTERS A'T'TO R NEY June 20, 1950 R. D. WALTERS 2,512,573

COIN CONTROL mums FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1946, s Sheets-Sheet s 1L 0 TI H, 36 44 43 33 18 22 45 251 26 39 30 40 FIG. 4 37 38 2 INVENTQR:

RALPH D. WALTERS BYW ATTOR N EY.

Patented June 20, 1950 COIN CONTROL MEANS FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Ralph D. Walters, Cleveland, Ohio, assignmof one-third to William Isler, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 24, 1946, Serial No. 679,022

4 Claims. (Cl. 194-40) This invention relates, as indicated, to coin control means'for beverage vending machines, but has reference more particularly to beverage vending machines of the type in which cups are dispensed singly from the bottom of a stack of cups as the stack descends.

In machines of this type, the operation is such that "after the cup has been dropped from the bottom of the stack, the cup is filled with the beverage and is readily accessible to the person who has inserted a coin into the machine.

Heretofore, when the last cuphas been dispensed, no means have been provided for discontinuing the operation of the machine, with the result that if the supply of beverage in the machine is greater than that required to fill all of the cups, the excess beverage spills into the opening from which the last cup has been removed, and splatters over anyone who happens to be near such opening. Moreover, no means have been provided in machines of this type for either indicating that the supply of cups is exhausted or has fallen below a predetermined safe minimum, or for returning the coin to the person operating the machine in such cases.

It is a primary object of the invention, therefore, to provide means in beverage vending machines of this type, for causing the machine to become inoperative when the supply of cups has fallen below a predetermined safe minimum, or, stated in another manner, when the stack of cups has fallen below a predetermined level.

Another object of the invention is to provide means, in a beverage vending machine of this type, for giving the user of the machine or others interested in the operation of the machine, a visual or other indication that the machine has been rendered inoperative due to the above-mentioned causes.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a beverage vending machine 01' this type, means for causing a coin which has been inadvertently inserted into the machine, after the machine has thus been rendered inoperative, to be returned to the person thus inserting the coin.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a plan view, showing in a more or less diagrammatic manner, an assemblage of elements or parts used in a typical beverage vending machine, including a cup-dispensing unit, coin-controlled means for operating the cup-dispensing unit, and the novel means to which reference has been made above;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the elements or parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a'fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram for the elements or parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral I designates a generally cylindrical cup dispenser in which a stack of nested paper cups C is mounted, mechanism being provided for lowering the stack in steps equivalent to the distance between the rims of the cups as shown in Fig. 2, and, at the same time, dropping or releasing the lowermost cup from the stack, 30 that such cup falls on a platform, not shown, where such cup is filled with a beverage by means well understood in the art, but not necessary to be described.

The cup dispensing mechanism, in this instance, comprises a series of oscillatable elements 2, which are spaced circumferentlally about the dispenser l, in an enlarged annular portion 3 thereof, and which, in one position of their oscillatory movement, support the rim of th lowermost cup (thereby supporting the entire stack of cups), and in another position of their oscillatory movement, release the lowermost cup from the stack.

For the purpose of oscillating the elements 2, each element is mounted for movement about a vertical axis or shaft 4, and has secured thereto a pinion 5, all of the pinions being in mesh with a ring gear 6. The ring gear, at one point in its periphery, is provided with an ear or lever 1, which extends through a slot or opening 8 in the wall of the annular enlargement 3 of the dispenser I. The outer end of the lever 1 has pivotally connected thereto one end of a link 9, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a lever III which is secured, as by a set screw l l, to the shaft I! of a motor l3. During each complete-rotation of the motor I 3, the ring gear I oscillates between the extreme positions indicated by the solid and dot-dash lines in Fig. i, to thereby release the lowermost cup from the stack of cups and permit the stack to descend a distance equivalent to the distance between the rims of the cups.

The aforesaid cup dispensing'mechanism is not a part of applicant's invention, but has been described in suflicient detail to render understable the cup dispensing action and function. For

. Y 3 further details of this cup-dispensing mechanism, reference may be had to United States Patent No. 2,268,421, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of such a cup-dispensing mechanism, and that any other type of cup-dispensing mechanism which is available can be used.

The motor I3 is driven from a source of power, indicated by the power lines i4 and I3, the current reaching the motor from the power line H through a lead l3. The current from the Power line l3 reaches the motor |3 through a path defined by the line H, switch arm l3, contact l3, contact 23, switch arm 2|, line 22, switch arm 23, contact 24, contact 23, switch arm 23, line 21 and lines 23 and 23. It may be noted, 'at this point, that the switch 23-23 is normally open, but is adapted to be closed by the vertical movement of a coin which bears against the trigger 33 of the switch arm 23 with suflioient weight to bring the contacts 24 and 23 together, the oin thereafter descending into a suitable receptacle, as is common in beverage vending machines of this type.

Rigidly secured to the shaft of the motor I3 is a disc 3| having a peripheral recess 32, which is adapted for the reception of the detent 33 of an arm 34 which is movable about a pivotal axis 33, th arm 34 being attached to the switch arm |3 as at 33. The detent 33 normally bears against the peripheral edge of the disc 3| and at such time, the arm 34 is biased toward the switch arm 2| in such a manner that the contacts I3 and 23 are closed, that is to say, the switch |32| is normally closed. As the motor |3 completes a single revolution in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the disc similarly completes a revolution and at the end of such revolution,

the detent 33 automaticallyenters the recess 32' in the disc, thereby opening the switch |32| and stopping the motor. The momentum of the disc 3|, however, is suflicient to carry the recess 32 beyond the detent 33, the detent stopping at a. point indicated at S in Fig. 4, thereby again closing the switch |32 No current will pass to the motor, however, since the switch 23--23 has,

in the meantime, opened.

When the switch 23-23 is closed, and the circuit to the motor l3 thus energized, it is necessary to maintain the circuit closed after the coin has passed the trigger 33. This is accomplished by the closing of a relay circuit consisting of the line 23, a line 31, switch arm 33, contact 33, contact 43, pivotally mounted switch arm 4| line 42, line 22,, switch arm 2|, contacts 23 and I3, switch arm l8, and lines l1 and 3, the other side of the circuit consisting of power supply line l4, and line i3. The switch 33-4l is normally open, but

is closed when the switch 23-23 is closed by the switch arm 2|, lines 22 and i1, and power line l3.

When the switch |3-2| is opened at the end of the revolution'of the motor, the relay circuit opens.

An important feature of the invention comprises means for (a) preventing operation of the machine, i. e., operation of the motor l3, when the supply of cups has reached a predetermined minimum, (3) causinga return of the coin at 4 such time, and (c) causing a signal, in the form of an incandescent bulb readily visible from the front of the machine, to be lighted to indicate that the machine is not operable and that the supply of cops needs replenishment.

For the above purposes, the following circuits and equipment is provided.

A line 43 extends from power line I3 to a contact arm 41 carrying contacts 43 and 43. at opposite sides thereof. The arm 41 is provided at its upper end with a bar 33 which bears against an armature 3| which carries an arm 32, the armature 3| being pivotally movable about a point 33. The portion of the armature beyond the pivotal point 33 is connected to a stationary part 34 by means of a weak tension coil spring 33. The armature 3| is movable in one direction by means of the aforesaid spring 53, and in the other direction by a relay coil 33, which is energized by a circuit, one side of which consists of line 38, line 28, line 31. switch arm 33, contacts 33 and 43, switch arm 4|, line 42, line 22, switch arm 2|, contacts 23 and I3, switch arm l3, line H and power line |3.

A coin return relay coil is indicated at 33, this coil being adapted to act upon an armature 33, which carries a by-pass trigger 3|. This coil is energized by a circuit, one side of which consists of a line 32, line 33 and power line l4, and the other side of which consists of line 34, contact arm 33, contact 33, contact 43, contact arm 41, and power line IS.

The signal light is indicated at 31, and this light is adapted to be energized by a circuit, one side of which consists of power line l4, line 33, and line 38, and the other side of which consists of line 33, contact arm 13, contact 1|, contact 43, contact arm 41, and ower line i3.

The arm 32 extends through a slot or opening 12 in the cup dispenser and normally bears against the rims of the cups C, due to the action of the spring 33, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

The machine further includes a coin receiving box, which is more or less diagrammatically fllustrated, such box having a coin-receiving opening 13 and a coin chute 14 (Fig. 2), from which the coin passes into a coin receptacle (not shown). As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the coin-return relay,

consisting of elements 33, 33 and 3|. is mounted on the back of the coin box.

The relay coil 33, and elements associated therewith, including elements 41, 43, 43, 33, 3|, 32, 33, 34, 33, 33, 33, 33, 13 and 1|, are mounted directly on the cup dispenser I, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8.

The operation of the coin control means will now be described, it being noted at the outset that the contacts 33 and 48 are in engagement with each other, that the arm 32 bears against the cup rims, and that the coin-return trigger 3| is in a retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1, this latter position being maintained by the action of the relay coil 33 on the arm 33.

Upon deposit of a coin of the required denomination into the opening 13 in the coin box, the coin will descend through the chute 14 and pass into a suitable coin receptacle (not shown). As the coin emerges from the chute 13, it strikes the trigger 33, biasing the switch arm 23 toward the switch arm 23, thereby closing this switch and energizing the motor circuit in a manner which has been previously described and causing the lowermost cup in the stack to be dropped from the cup-dispensing mechanism.

During the single revolution of the motor II. which constitutes a vending cycle, the relay coil to is energized, causing the arm 82 to be retracted slightly from engagement with the cup rims, and thereby relieving the pressure of this arm against such rims, which pressure, unless it is virtually reduced to a zero pressure, would interfere with the downward movement of the stack of cups, and interfere with the cupdispensing operation.

At the termination of the aforesaid vending cycle, the relay coil 56 is de-energized, permitting the spring 55 to return the arm 52 to its original position in contact with the cup rims. This return movement of the arm 52 to its original positions is not of suiilcient magnitude to break the engagement between contacts 86 and 48. By thus maintaining the engagement between contacts 66 and ll, the coil 59 remains energized. and the trigger ll remains'in retracted position. permitting further operation of the machine.

When the uppermost level of the stack of cups, 1. e., the rim of the uppermost cup in the stack, drops below the lower edge of the arm 62, this arm, due to the action of the spring 55, moves to the right from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thereby causing the engagement between contacts 86 and ll to be broken, and contact made between contacts 40 and II. This causes the circuit to the signal light I! to be energized, and the circuit to the coil it to be de-energized. When the circuit to the coil 59 is de-energized, a spring 8| (Fig. 1), causes the am It to pivot in such a manner as to cause the trigger I to enter an opening ll in the rear plate of the coin box and to project into the chute II, as

shown in Fig. 2. Thereafter, upon any attempt to insert a coin into the machine, the coin will strike the trigger Ii and by-pass the chute l4, passing out of the coin box to another chute from which it may be retrieved by the person attempting to operate the machine. In this manner, the signal light, as well as the inability to operate the machine will serve as a double indication that the supply of cups requires replenishment.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of the specific cup dispenser shown, or to the specific mechanism for operating the cup dispenser, these being illustrated and described for the purpose of clearly understanding the complete operation 0! the machine.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjolned claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a beverage dispensing machine, the combination of an electrical circuit, coin-actuated means for closing said circuit, means responsive to closing of said circuit for dispensing cups from a stack of cups disposed in said machine, a movable armature element yieldingly engaging said stack and restrained from forward movement by said stack, and an electromagnet operatively associated with said armature element and effective to retract said element in response to energization of said circuit whereby said element is withdrawn from engagement with said stack during the dlflnnsing of said cups.

2. Inabeveragedispensingmachine-Jhecombination of an electrical circuit, coin-actuated means for closing said circuit, means responsive to closing of said circuit for dispensing cups from a stack of cups disposed in said machine. a movable armature element yieldably engaging said stack and restrained from forward movement by said stack, an electromagnet operatively associated with said armature element and effective to withdraw said element from engagement with said stack in response to energization of said circuit, a second electrical circuit, an electromagnet disposed in said second-named circuit, means movable in response to deenergization of said second-named electromagnet for diverting coins from said coin-actuated means, and switch means connected to said armature element for deenergizin said second-named electromagnet in response to unrestrained forward movement of said armature element.

3. In a beverage dispensing machine, the combination of an electrical circuit, a coin-receiving member, coin-actuated means for closing said circuit, means responsive to closing of said circuit for dispensing cups from a stack of cups disposed in said machine, a movable armature element yieldably engaging said stack and restrained from forward movement by said stack, an electromagnet operatively associated with said armature element and effective to withdraw said element from engagement with said stack in response to energization of said circuit, and means operatively associated with said coin-receiving member for disabling said coin-receiving member energization of said circuit, a second electrical circuit, electrically energizable signal means disposed in said second-named circuit, a third electrical circuit, switch means connected to said armature elements and normally closing said third-named circuit, said switch means being movable in response to unrestrained forward summons crrnn The following references are of record in the file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,911,207 Robinson May 80, 1038 2,075,989 Jonneret Apr. 6. 1287 2,383,724 Ford Nov. 28, 1044 2,374,168 Bourman Apr. 24. 1M! 2,407,968 Von Stoeser Sept, 17, 1046 

